Covering cap for an airbag module and airbag module having such a covering cap

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover cap ( 10 ) for an airbag module ( 12 ), especially for a driver airbag module, comprising a front panel ( 14 ) including an outer face ( 16 ) as well as an opposed inner face ( 18 ) which in the assembled state of the airbag module ( 12 ) faces a folded airbag ( 20 ), and an emblem ( 22 ) which is arranged and fastened at the inside of the front panel ( 14 ), wherein in the area of the emblem ( 22 ) the front panel ( 14 ) has an emblem opening ( 24 ) through which the emblem ( 22 ) is visible from the outer face ( 16 ) of the front panel ( 14 ), wherein the front panel ( 14 ) includes a tear line ( 26 ) along which the cover cap ( 10 ) tears upon activation of the assembled airbag module ( 12 ), and wherein the tear line ( 26 ) opens into the emblem opening ( 24 ) at an edge point ( 28 ) of the emblem opening ( 24 ). Furthermore, the invention also includes an airbag module ( 12 ) comprising said cover cap ( 10 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cover cap for an airbag module ( 12 ), comprising:
 a front panel ( 14 ) including an outer face ( 16 ) as well as an opposed inner face ( 18 ) which in an assembled state of the airbag module ( 12 ) faces a folded airbag ( 20 ), and 
 at least one emblem ( 22 ) fastened to the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein in an area of the at least one emblem ( 22 ) the front panel ( 14 ) has two separate emblem openings ( 24 ), wherein the at least one emblem ( 22 ) is installed from and fastened to the inner face ( 18 ) of the front panel ( 14 ), engages the inner face ( 18 ) of the front panel ( 14 ) along the peripheries of the two emblem openings ( 24 ), and is visible through the two emblem openings ( 24 )—from the outer face ( 16 ) of the front panel ( 14 ), and 
 wherein the front panel ( 14 ) includes a tear line ( 26 ) along which the cover cap ( 10 ) tears upon activation of the assembled airbag module ( 12 ), 
 wherein each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) comprises at least one edge point ( 28 ), and wherein the tear line ( 26 ) opens into each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) at an edge point ( 28 ) of the emblem opening ( 24 ), and 
 wherein the two emblem openings ( 24 ) are spaced apart from each other and connected to each other by a connecting portion ( 34 ) of the tear line ( 26 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The cover cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear line ( 26 ) is formed by a panel recess ( 54 ) provided on the inner face ( 18 ) of the front panel ( 14 ). 
     
     
       3. The cover cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear line ( 26 ) is interrupted by each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) at two of the at least one edge point ( 28 ) which are spaced apart from each other in their respective emblem opening ( 24 ). 
     
     
       4. The cover cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one emblem ( 22 ) is a two-part design and includes two separate emblem elements ( 30 ,  32 ) spaced apart from each other, wherein each of the emblem elements ( 30 ,  32 ) is associated with a corresponding one of the two separate emblem openings ( 24 ). 
     
     
       5. The cover cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the front panel ( 14 ) in an area of the connecting portion ( 34 ) of the tear line ( 26 ), has a first residual panel thickness (d 1 ) which is larger than a second residual panel thickness (d 2 ) outside said connecting portion ( 34 ). 
     
     
       6. The cover cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear line ( 26 ) of the front panel ( 14 ) is approximately H-shaped and includes two opposite edge portions ( 42 ) as well as a central portion ( 44 ) extending through a central area of the front panel ( 14 ) and connecting the edge portions ( 42 ), the tear line ( 26 ) being interrupted in an area of the central portion ( 44 ) by the two emblem openings ( 24 ). 
     
     
       7. The cover cap according to  claim 1 , wherein on the inner face ( 18 ) of the front panel ( 14 ) reinforcing ribs ( 40 ) are provided adjacent to the at least one emblem ( 22 ). 
     
     
       8. The cover cap according to  claim 1 , wherein on the inner face of the front panel ( 14 ) plural pins ( 36 ) are provided for fastening the at least one emblem ( 22 ). 
     
     
       9. An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising:
 a module housing ( 56 ) which includes a cover cap ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , 
 an airbag ( 20 ) which is accommodated in the module housing ( 56 ) as a folded airbag package when the airbag module ( 12 ) is deactivated, and 
 an inflator ( 58 ) for inflating the airbag ( 20 ) upon activation of the airbag module ( 12 ). 
 
     
     
       10. The cover cap according to  claim 1 , wherein the front panel ( 14 ) comprises a weakened panel portion in the an area of the tear line ( 26 ) and has a residual panel thickness in remaining portions of the front panel ( 14 ). 
     
     
       11. A cover cap for an airbag module ( 12 ), comprising:
 a front panel ( 14 ) including an outer face ( 16 ) as well as an opposed inner face ( 18 ) which in an assembled state of the airbag module ( 12 ) faces a folded airbag ( 20 ), and 
 an emblem ( 22 ) having a two-part design including two separate emblem elements ( 30 ,  32 ) that are spaced apart from each other and fastened at an inside of the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein in an area of each of the emblem elements ( 30 ,  32 ) the front panel ( 14 ) has an emblem opening ( 24 ) through which the corresponding emblem element ( 30 ,  32 ) is visible from the outer face ( 16 ) of the front panel ( 14 ), and 
 wherein the front panel ( 14 ) includes a tear line ( 26 ) along which the cover cap ( 10 ) tears upon activation of the assembled airbag module ( 12 ), 
 wherein each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) comprises at least one edge point ( 28 ), and wherein the tear line ( 26 ) opens into each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) at an edge point ( 28 ) of the emblem opening ( 24 ). 
 
     
     
       12. A cover cap for an airbag module ( 12 ), comprising:
 a front panel ( 14 ) including an outer face ( 16 ) as well as an opposed inner face ( 18 ) which, in an assembled state of the airbag module ( 12 ), faces a folded airbag ( 20 ), and 
 at least one emblem ( 22 ) which is arranged and fastened at an inside of the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein, in an area of the at least one emblem ( 22 ), the front panel ( 14 ) has at least one emblem opening ( 24 ) through which the at least one emblem ( 22 ) is visible from the outer face ( 16 ) of the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein the front panel ( 14 ) includes a tear line ( 26 ) along which the cover cap ( 10 ) tears upon activation of the assembled airbag module ( 12 ), 
 wherein the tear line ( 26 ) opens into each of the at least one emblem openings ( 24 ) at an edge point ( 28 ) of the emblem opening ( 24 ), and 
 wherein, on the inner face ( 18 ) of the front panel ( 14 ), reinforcing ribs ( 40 ) are provided adjacent to the at least one emblem ( 22 ). 
 
     
     
       13. A cover cap for an airbag module ( 12 ), comprising:
 a front panel ( 14 ) including an outer face ( 16 ) as well as an opposed inner face ( 18 ) which in an assembled state of the airbag module ( 12 ) faces a folded airbag ( 20 ), and 
 at least one emblem ( 22 ) which is arranged and fastened at an inside of the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein in an area of the at least one emblem ( 22 ) the front panel ( 14 ) has two separate emblem openings ( 24 ) through which the at least one emblem ( 22 ) is visible from the outer face ( 16 ) of the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein the front panel ( 14 ) includes a tear line ( 26 ) along which the cover cap ( 10 ) tears upon activation of the assembled airbag module ( 12 ), 
 wherein each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) comprises at least one edge point ( 28 ), and wherein the tear line ( 26 ) opens into each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) at an edge point ( 28 ) of the emblem opening ( 24 ), 
 wherein the emblem openings ( 24 ) are spaced apart from each other and connected to each other by a connecting portion ( 34 ) of the tear line ( 26 ), and 
 wherein the at least one emblem ( 22 ) is a two-part design and includes two separate emblem elements ( 30 ,  32 ) spaced apart from each other, wherein each of the emblem elements ( 30 ,  32 ) is associated with a corresponding one of the two separate emblem openings ( 24 ). 
 
     
     
       14. A cover cap for an airbag module ( 12 ), comprising:
 a front panel ( 14 ) including an outer face ( 16 ) as well as an opposed inner face ( 18 ) which in an assembled state of the airbag module ( 12 ) faces a folded airbag ( 20 ), and 
 at least one emblem ( 22 ) which is arranged and fastened at an inside of the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein in an area of the at least one emblem ( 22 ) the front panel ( 14 ) has two separate emblem openings ( 24 ) through which the at least one emblem ( 22 ) is visible from the outer face ( 16 ) of the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein the front panel ( 14 ) includes a tear line ( 26 ) along which the cover cap ( 10 ) tears upon activation of the assembled airbag module ( 12 ), 
 wherein each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) comprises at least one edge point ( 28 ), and wherein the tear line ( 26 ) opens into each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) at an edge point ( 28 ) of the emblem opening ( 24 ), 
 wherein the emblem openings ( 24 ) are spaced apart from each other and connected to each other by a connecting portion ( 34 ) of the tear line ( 26 ), and 
 wherein the front panel ( 14 ) in an area of the connecting portion ( 34 ) of the tear line ( 26 ), has a first residual panel thickness (d 1 ) which is larger than a second residual panel thickness (d 2 ) outside said connecting portion ( 34 ). 
 
     
     
       15. A cover cap for an airbag module ( 12 ), comprising:
 a front panel ( 14 ) including an outer face ( 16 ) as well as an opposed inner face ( 18 ) which in an assembled state of the airbag module ( 12 ) faces a folded airbag ( 20 ), and 
 at least one emblem ( 22 ) which is arranged and fastened at an inside of the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein in an area of the at least one emblem ( 22 ) the front panel ( 14 ) has two separate emblem openings ( 24 ) through which the at least one emblem ( 22 ) is visible from the outer face ( 16 ) of the front panel ( 14 ), 
 wherein the front panel ( 14 ) includes a tear line ( 26 ) along which the cover cap ( 10 ) tears upon activation of the assembled airbag module ( 12 ), 
 wherein each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) comprises at least one edge point ( 28 ), and wherein the tear line ( 26 ) opens into each of the two emblem openings ( 24 ) at an edge point ( 28 ) of the emblem opening ( 24 ), 
 wherein the emblem openings ( 24 ) are spaced apart from each other and connected to each other by a connecting portion ( 34 ) of the tear line ( 26 ), and 
 wherein on the inner face ( 18 ) of the front panel ( 14 ) reinforcing ribs ( 40 ) are provided adjacent to the at least one emblem ( 22 ).